Senator Maria Byrne

Fine Gael TD for Meath West, Ray Butler, has said that improvements to the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme, announced today by the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, will make a real difference to people across the country.

Minister of State at the Department of Jobs and Fine Gael TD for Meath West, Damien English, has said that the USC changes introduced in Budget 2016 will be evident to thousands of people who are getting paid today (Friday) for the first time in 2016.

Comments made by a senior Sinn Féin politician today have made it clearer than ever that a vote for Fianna Fáil could put Gerry Adams and Sinn Féin in government, according to Paudie Coffey, Fine Gael TD for Waterford and Minister of State at the Department of Environment. Minister Coffey was speaking after Sinn Féin’s Director of Elections, Matt Carty MEP, said on national radio this afternoon that his Party would be “open to discussion” on forming a government with Fianna Fáil.

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has said that he expects the North Quays Site in Waterford City to be designated as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) at tomorrow’s cabinet meeting. Minister Coffey said that this designation will bring certainty to the entire brownfield site on the North Side of the River Suir that has the potential to be a game-changer for Our City and Our Region.

“Fianna Fail and Michéal Martin would be better off spending their time developing a jobs policy rather than constantly returning to populist politics and attempting to rewrite history.

“Fianna Fail and Michéal Martin would be better off spending their time developing a jobs policy rather than constantly returning to populist politics and attempting to rewrite history.

Fine Gael TD for Cork East, Tom Barry, has said that a €2 million Government fodder scheme will provide vital relief for farmers in East Cork whose fodder has been destroyed in recent flooding. This scheme which has been announced by the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney will apply to the loss of silage, hay, straw and concentrates where there is evidence of damage caused by flooding and where the losses are not covered by insurance.

Responding to Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin's claims today about right-wing economics, Meath Fine Gael TD Helen McEntee said: "Micheál Martin was the most right-wing Minister for Enterprise in the history of the Irish state.

Minister for Housing and TD for Waterford, Paudie Coffey, has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, that €15,000 has been allocated for Waterford Spraoi in 2016. This is part of Fáilte Ireland‘s national funding of just over €1.8 million for 23 key national festivals and events.

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has said that the government has announced a series of additional supports for flood affected areas. Minister Coffey said that that the government are responding to the flooding by rolling out financial and other supports for communities affected by the floods.